The Like-addicts: Depending On Fame In The Adolescence Of The 21st Century
Part of the success that explains the popularity of social networks like Facebook or Instagram lies in how easy they are to use Its operation is simple, and once inside, it is not difficult to know what to do at all times just by moving (literally) a finger.
Unfortunately, this same simplicity of use constitutes a potentially harmful mechanic of use for many adolescents, an age group especially vulnerable to “the charms” of this type of virtual environments.
And if people as prone to distractions and immediacy as young people have learned to use social networks, it is because these digital platforms are capable of constantly promising them the satisfaction of several of their basic needs. ANDThis leads us to talk about like-addicts: what they are, how they are made, and what can be done to manage this problem.
The causes of dependence on the “like” on social networks
Two of the most important characteristics of adolescent psychology are the following: search for experiences beyond the family environment, and search for acceptance by a reference group (adolescents of the same age and a little older than oneself).
These sources of motivation for the average teenager tend to make many parents uncomfortable, and of course, sometimes, they do not fit very well with the values and priorities of the parents. However, they are still part of the normal development of young people.
The normal thing is that the desire to achieve popularity does not become a problem or an obsession. But the reality is that, in order to achieve fame and attention, some young people will be capable of exposing themselves to risky situations (even for their life) or over-exposing their intimate life, becoming obsessed with the objective they pursue. : recognition and popularity, all this translated into likes And the more, the better.
This adolescent mentality can also make young people more prone to certain undesirable habits. Specific, The uncontrolled use of social networks such as Facebook or Instagram can make them “hook” on their smartphones and computers The reason? These digital platforms allow them to constantly enter a dynamic in which those two needs that we mentioned above are quickly satisfied. This is why many boys and girls can end up developing addiction to mobile devices (nomophobia) and a severe addiction to likes (like-addicts).
On the one hand, Social networks give the opportunity to create content continuously, almost without interruption: write statuses, post photos, share videos… One type of content that these digital platforms try to prioritize is that which is created by users, that talks about the person. Instagram Stories, photos in which one can be tagged, personal reflections…
The companies that manage these platforms They focus on original personal content, created by users fleeing from institutional content.
In this way, a context is created in which adolescents have an excuse to show themselves in different situations and share them on the Internet through photos, videos, messages, etc. Even those actions that at other times might seem ridiculous are justified by the fact that they are seen by many people who become potential sources of “likes.” And this brings us to the next point.
The search for acceptance
As we have seen, social networks give reasons to publish content that talks about oneself, and this makes experiencing new experiences even more stimulating: you can get more out of exploring ruins, climbing an abandoned building, going on vacation to an exotic place or even wearing new clothes. And this links with the other great source of motivation for adolescents: the search for acceptance and respect from other young people.
Here it is important to take into account the following: The young people by whom the adolescent wants to feel accepted are not the members of his group of friends, but many more people even strangers, or other teenagers in higher grades who have never heard of him.
This logic adapts very well to what social networks offer: the possibility of generating content of potentially unlimited reach. If done right, a homemade video can go viral, reaching hundreds of thousands of people in a matter of hours. The reach of this content depends, in large part, on the number of times said content is shared, and the “likes” that others give to that video, photo or message.
In this way, social networks They offer the possibility of becoming famous practically without having to leave the couch without having to first submit to the scrutiny of other people more popular than oneself, and even without depending on the collaboration of friends.
The result: like-addicts
A social network is a place where original content is consumed and shared and where what is personal and surprising is rewarded In exchange, you are offered fame and a lifestyle based on constantly trying new things. All this, working in real time, at the click of a button and without waiting.
The result of this goes beyond constant use of social media to see what others have posted. Many teenagers around the world already fantasize about achieving fame in the virtual world. Achieving popularity, money and recognition thanks to social networks has already become one of his main desires
In fact, there are already studies that suggest that in the adolescent population there is a direct relationship between the obsessive use of social networks and a greater likelihood of developing depression. That is why parental supervision and attention to observing how children use their social networks is important.
How to manage this problem?
It is clear that for many families this dynamic of use of social networks by teenage sons and daughters becomes a problem. Here we will see some recommendations on how to deal with this.
1. Improve risk education
Exposing yourself on social networks carries many risks for teenagers. You have to make sure that they know them and keep them in mind although without alarming them by exaggerating so that they do not become obsessed with dangers that do not exist.
2. Better education in values
It is important that parents, teachers and guardians make young people understand that the most important thing in life is not only to be at the top of the social hierarchy by the number of followers on Facebook or Instagram, and show them that there are other criteria by which they may be inspired.
Reinforce the positive values that underlie friendship, camaraderie, curiosity to learn… all of this can also help by looking for inspiring examples, especially from people in your age group, people with whom you can easily identify. .
3. If necessary, limit access to social networks
In cases where the use of social networks is very excessive, A schedule can be set in which the adolescent can access these However, it must be done avoiding confrontation and explaining very well the reason for the measure.
In any case, completely prohibiting access is a bad idea, among other things because this could lead the adolescent to social isolation, especially if we take into account that practically all young people their age socialize through these platforms.
The need to seek professional help
In some cases, it is necessary to go to psychotherapy
Addictions go beyond substance use, and in fact can arise from behaviors that fall completely within the law. Dependence goes beyond the ingestion of substances, since in the end the addictive action ends up being prioritized before everything else. A harmful habit that disrupts the person’s psyche and life, absorbing their attention completely.
In the case of young people who need to constantly check their social networks, the problem is not considered a recognized psychiatric disorder in the diagnostic manuals used by mental health professionals (as occurs, for example, with addiction to drugs), but it can be a problem, making it advisable to go to psychological therapy.
The key to this is not to stay superficial: Beyond the apparent addiction to social networks, there are specific psychological mechanisms that are being exploited by these digital platforms. Therefore, to understand what happens to those teenagers who can’t get away from the screen, we must understand why like-addicts arise, and act accordingly by seeking professional help from psychologists.
